I am thinking of getting myself a Jeppesen Techstar Flight Computer. Does anyone here have experience with this computer? I am wondering if it is worth the money concerning user friendliness and speed as compared to the manual disc computer I currently use. Any opinion is appreciated.

Take a look at the ASA CX-2, also. I bought my CX-2 after doing a "side by side" with the Jeppesen. Although the CX-2 is not as thin as the Jepp, it has larger easy to use buttons and is very user friendly. My instructor has one and has been very happy with it. Sells for about the same price, too (about US$80).

I think almost all the electronic E6B's have the same functions, so it's just a matter of finding out which one suits your personal tastes.

I recieved a Jepp Techstar as a high school graduation gift. It is actually very handy for FAA tests and for preflight planning, but I don't find myself using it at all for in-flight stuff. For that, I prefer my old-school "whiz wheel" E6B. I actually think the old E6B is easier and more simple. Also, you can operate it with one hand (good for those in-cockpit functions--ever tried to work an electronic E6B and fly at the same time?) and it will never run out of batteries.

The electronic E6B has some other functions that the traditional flight computer does not. For example, I can't do weight-and-balance and wieght shift calculations on my sliding E6B, but I can do it on my Tech Star. Plus it is nice to have just a normal calculator included for those of us (myself included) who struggle with mental math.

So yeah, it's helpful to have one an electronic flight computer. I couldn't comment on which one is best, because I haven't had experience with anything but the Tech Star. If I were purchasing one for myself, I'd probably buy the one with the best/easiest user interface. Chances are that all the functions are comparable, but I know that my Tech Star is a little difficult to operate even on the ground.

Nothing can replace the original E6B in simplicity. However the Jeppesen techstar is really good, very user friendly, and it has all the basic functions; Time, speed, distance and wind calculations, plus more advanced ones. But I think NormalSpeed has pointed out the main features.

Would you be able to use it in exams (assuming you want to go commercial)? It would be prohibited here. Even if the electronic computer is easier, I say get all the practice you can with the manual version.

The level of difficulty of calculations for VFR Private flying is very simple anyway. Unless I'm doing a very difficult flight, either a long distance over water or not using radio nav/GPS, I don't do wind corrections as part of the planning. Without wind calculations, it's only TAS and endurance to be worked out and I can do that on the old manual flight computer faster than I could type in all the numbers to the electronic version.

I've just bought a Jepp CR-2 which is great. Does all the conversions and x-wind / head-wind components plus CAS, TAS, Mach No. calculations etc... and fits in your shirt pocket.

For some reason Jepp has decided to scrap produciton of the CR-2 (the mid-sized one) which seems a little crazy to me so all the last ones are getting snapped up.

As for the electronic computers they're not allowed for our flight crew exams either. I've also heard of people sitting exams (can't remember where) with Techstar or equivalent and the examiner 'failing' the computer eg: taking the batteries out or whatever. I personally go for the traditional ones, electronic gismos - just one more thing which can screw up.

I love and highly recommend the ASA CX-2 for flight planning and FAA exams. It has a ton of features, and all the planning is intuitive so one set of numbers carries on the the nest calculation. I especially love it for weight and balance. However, as others have said, in flight the E6B is my best friend. Much easier on the fly.

I have to second all the previous posts about the ASA CX-2. It has to be one of the most user friendly flight computers I have seen. I have had the opportunity to watch fellow flight school students struggle through using other computers and I wonder why they still use them. All the functions of the CX-2 are categorized and the format is very intuitive. I would highly recommend the ASA CX-2 flight computer to any flight student.

GreatChecko

"A pilot's plane she is. She will love you if you deserve it, and try to kill you if you don't...She is the Mighty Q400"

I would like to bring something up here and would appreciate any comments. During my PPL ground, when we were learning the E6B, I and another guy in the class and we both were seriously thinking about getting a digital Flight computer. I was almost about to buy it when the other guy told me that he took the opinion of the chief flight instructor about it. And he said, "Sure go get one, but the first thing you wanna do after buying it is to take a hammer and smash it." It came as a shock to me, he said even if you have a E6B inflight that you are not used to and your digital one goes bad for what so ever reason, you will not have any alternative.
I have taken the advice for now and plan to get used to the E6B before I think about it.

That's good advise, I don't think an electronic E6-B is ever good in flight, they are too difficult to be used one handed. However, for preflight planning, they are very useful. Most can do functions that a manual E6-B cannot do.

However, this is not an excuse for not learning how to use a manual E6-B. On the contrary, an electronic E6-B is something you move on to (in my opinion) when you have mastered a manual E6-B.

I whole heartedly agree with your chief flight instructor, digital is not good for inflight use, but on the ground, its a whole different story.

GreatChecko

"A pilot's plane she is. She will love you if you deserve it, and try to kill you if you don't...She is the Mighty Q400"

I absolutely agree. Don't even think of buying a electronic flight computer until you've mastered the E6B. Its kind of like GPS. You can use GPS but you gotta learn pilotage and dead reckoning before you use the crutch.

And yes, in flight, the electronic one is a nightmare. I've tried it and I HATED it. E6B is a must in flight.

Tanks everyone for your replies. To give you an update: I got me a Techstar, and I used it for flight preparation today for the first time. The machine as such is not bad, especially the "soft keys" on the right upper side are very handy. For preflight calculations such as heading, ground speeds, trip time etc. I found it quite good and also quite self explaining. To the question "are you quicker than with a manual calculator?" the answer is "probably not", but our generation is more comfortable with typing into keyboards than with sliding rulers. The only thing which really needs improvement is the display. You can read it only under good light conditions and from the right angle. I did not use the calculator in flight, but I think that those of you who said that it is difficult to use it in the cockpit may be right. If think for an inflight calculation I would still use the mechanical one.

So overall:

Is a Techstar a must? - no
Is it handy?- yes
Is it worth the 50 bucks?- probably yes
Would I buy it again? - yes